local (L.A.) category

Arm in Arm by Remy Charlip, 1969

Arm in Arm

a collection of connections
endless tales
reiterations
and other echolalia

by Remy Charlip
…..

An absurd, beautiful, free-form, and frequently psychedelic children’s book I found at a thrift store the other day. Remy Charlip is a very interesting and talented jack-of-all-trades: a teacher, theater director, choreographer, costume and set designer, the head of the Children’s Literature and Theater department at Sarah Lawrence College, and founder of the New York Children’s Theater (to name a few).  I took some photos of the crazy layouts in this book but none of them turned out that great, so here are some cover and detail shots.

1969, arm in arm, remy charlip, book, the look see

1969, arm in arm, remy charlip, book, the look see

1969, arm in arm, remy charlip, book, the look see

1969, arm in arm, remy charlip, book, the look see

1969, arm in arm, remy charlip, book, the look see

Dying arts and other fascinations

So I finally found a hand-engraver. Most of you don’t know that I’ve been looking for one, but remember this vintage signet ring that I got for Christmas in 2009? Well I’ve been wearing it everyday for two years, blank, until this week! I decided it was time to complete this incomplete ring. The difference between hand and machine engraving is quite significant, in my opinion. Machine engraving has absolutely no grace to it- the lines are too heavy, too perfect, and you are limited to a few boring styles. I’d worked with hand engravers at a previous job with a designer, and there I developed a real admiration and appreciation for their precise art. I have such a love and respect for this old-world craft, which to me, is still relevant.  Hopefully it doesn’t fade into oblivion like so many other skilled trades.

I found a fellow who is a very sweet, talented, older gentleman who’s been in the same location for 31 years, and has lovely old hand-engraving booklets that must date back to at least the 1920’s.  He also has a case full of more complex pieces that he has made for people in the past and is very proud of- wax impressions of super complex carved signet images, carvings and cut-outs of faces, and much more.

Most monograms are too florid for me, and the square signet called for something more delicate and simple, especially because of all the subtle exisiting engraved filigree.  I found a deco style that seemed to suit the era of the ring, was not too masculine or feminine, and had a small amount of shading.  I am very pleased with the outcome.

signet, hand engraving, vintage, los angeles, the look see

Out and about

lincoln heights, the look see, los angeles, restaurant, mexican, taxidermy, photo, ©christina beaulac

Lincoln Heights- Mexican restaurant

glendale, piano shop, the look see, photo,  ©christina beaulac

Glendale- Backdoor of Piano Shop

I really need to start a new Flickr account.  Los Angeles can be so beautiful sometimes.

Grown

In the span of a couple months my crescent Opuntia (which I posted about in February) has gone from this:

plant, pot, vintage, opuntia, container gardening, the look see

To this:

plant, pot, vintage, opuntia, container gardening, the look see

Weekend Finds

basket, bauer, pottery, ceramics, los angeles, the look see

Found this great basket at a garage sale this weekend for fifty cents, and the orange pot I picked up at the Bauer Pottery sale for a song as well. Hooray for factory seconds! The Bauer pot will soon be filled with a cactus or a succulent of some sort, and I’m still deciding what the basket should hold.  Until I decide, they can sit on my bookshelf and look pretty…

New plant, old pot

This is an oddball Opuntia that I got at my last Cacti & Succulent Society meeting (I say oddball because Opuntia’s usually are completely circular, not crescent shaped).  I had found this mid-century pot at an antique store and was excited to find the right plant for it.

plant, pot, vintage, opuntia, container gardening, the look see

Make Your Own Kind of Music

WINNER!

Thank you all for participating in my giveaway contest.  Even though it wasn’t as big a response as I was hoping for, I know some of you are first time commenters and your comments totally cheered me up.  I also loved seeing all of your shops, blogs, etc.   Of course always a huge thank you to folks who are my regular or sporadic commenters already!   You guys keep me going.

Sooo… the randomly selected winner is…. (drumroll)…  Victoria!

Victoria’s comment was:

‘I too think it’d would be a special necklace to wear every day! It would go so well with my daily stand-by of black skinny pants, a black tunic and cardigan, and my favourite black boots with stacked wood heels. It would stand out perfectly.”

Thank you Victoria!

LACMA Fashioning Fashion exhibit

These are details from a vest in the LACMA exhibit currently on view.  Apparently it is a favourite of John Galliano.  I can see why! Here is part of their interview with him.

Looking forward to seeing the exhibit soon.

lacma, los angeles, fashioning fashion, exhibit, vest, history, the looksee

lacma, los angeles, fashioning fashion, exhibit, vest, history, the looksee

“L’HABIT NE FAIT PAS LE MOINE” – “The habit does not make the monk”
“HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE” – “Shame upon him who thinks evil of it.”

Reminder

Don’t forget tomorrow by 12 PM PST is the last day to enter my giveaway contest for a Triangle Grid Necklace if you haven’t already entered!  A winner will be drawn on Friday the 19th.